In show jumping horse breeding, the quality of the dam plays a central role; this is widely recognised. Whilst stallions are often the focus of public attention, high-performing and proven mares form the foundation of many successful breeding programmes. Broodmares that have enjoyed particular success in sport – having themselves performed impressively in competition right up to the higher classes – are becoming increasingly valued. In particular, athleticism, intelligence and a willingness to perform are traits that are highly likely to be passed on to their offspring.
Holsteiner Hengsthaltungs GmbH is therefore delighted to be able to offer its breeders numerous sires descended from successful competition mares. An outstanding example of this is Karlo de Kalvarie, a son of Kassander van’t Roosakker. His dam is none other than Qiara de Kalvarie by Sea Coast Don’t Touch Tiji Hero, who, at the age of nine, was already successful at Grand Prix level and is also the full sister to Dourkhan Hero (Christian Ahlmann/GER). With Gilles Thomas (BEL) in the saddle, the bay mare is one of the outstanding young horses on the international competition circuit and has already achieved successes up to 1.55 metres. Among other achievements, she finished third at the Global Champions Tour leg in Paris and secured silver at the Belgian Championships.
Hippomundo regularly publishes so-called rating lists. For example, these cover horses that compete at the highest level from an early age and are very likely to make the leap to the top class of 1.60 metres by the age of ten or eleven. The nine-year-old Qiara de Kalvarie currently ranks fourth on this list.
Her son, Karlo de Kalvarie, born in 2021, is part of the young contingent of Holsteiner Association stallions. In 2025, the chestnut was not yet competing in competitions whilst recovering from illness. The whole team is looking forward to the five-year-old’s first competitions in the new year. In his first foal crop, Karlo has already impressed with offspring displaying exceptional conformation and movement. His daughter, bred by Claus-Heinrich Petersen (Ahrenviöl) out of a Diarado dam, impressed across the board at the State Foal Championships and took the silver medal with conformation marks up to the maximum score of 10 and movement marks up to 9.5.
Reserve Champion of the 2025 Holstein State Foal Championship: SF by Karlo de Kalvarie–Diarado (Claus-Heinrich Petersen)
Cover photo: Longines Global Champions Tour
Photo SF: Janne Bugtrup
Video Qiara de Kalvarie: ClipMyHorse.tv
